The growing international footprint of the Sunshine Tour was nowhere more evident than on day one of the FBC Zim Open as Tomas Gana, a professional from Chile, opened with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the first round at the Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday.
Gana, the winner of the 2017 Latin America Amateur Championship who also played in The Masters that year, earned his Sunshine Tour playing privileges when he finished tied fifth at the recent Theo Manyama Qualifying School.
Playing in his first tournament of the new season, Gana rolled in six birdies and an eagle, with only one bogey on the scorecard to lead by one stroke from a chasing pack of six players that includes the South Africans Merrick Bremner, Jaco Prinsloo and Ryan van der Klis, as well as last year’s runner-up, Austin Bautista from Australia, Germany’s Allen John and another Chilean in Gabriel Morgan.
Bremner, a seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, was more than happy to be in contention after a challenging past few seasons for him personally.
“The last year has obviously been a bit tough. I went through the process of getting tested to be able to donate a kidney to my wife, which I did in June last year. I had about five months off without playing golf. When I returned it didn’t go the way I envisioned or planned, but I just kept grinding, practising and staying positive. Luckily, I’ve managed to put a couple of performances together.”
Bremner took full advantage of an early start to set the clubhouse target.
“I started early on the 10th tee. It was bit cool and windy – just enough to keep you interested and awake. It was a nice day. I kept the ball in play well, hit a bunch of fairways and greens, and managed to convert a few into birdies as I was in position a lot. The conditions were nice early on and the course is playing really nicely. The greens are always great here in Zimbabwe.”
At just one stroke off the lead, Bremner is looking forward to the rest of the week.
“It’s always nice to set up a good score and have a good start to a tournament. It gives you a lot of belief in your game, knowing that you are capable of a good score and a good round. It helps for the rest of the week because you can always draw on that,” Bremner said.
The defending champion, Luis Carrera, signed for a four-under-par 68 and is three shots behind the leader.
SCORES
65 – Tomas Gana
66 – Merrick Bremner
66 – Allen John, Gabriel Morgan, Jaco Prinsloo, Austin Bautista, Ryan van der Klis
67 – Benjamin Kedochim
67 – Jaco Ahlers, Christiaan Burke, Jason Roets, Altin van der Merwe
68 – Heinrich Bruiners
68 – Luis Carrera, Samuel Simpson, Ruan Korb, Keenan Davidse, Stephen Ferreira, Andries van der Vyver
69 – Kyle Barker
69 – Jacques Van der Merwe, Robson Chinhoi, Martin Vorster, Rowan Lester, Malcolm Mitchell, Tyran Snyders, Hennie O’Kennedy, Simon du Plooy, Kyle McClatchie, James Mack, Cole Stevens, Wynand Dingle, Zachary Chegwidden, Clive Nguru
70 – Michael Wallace
70 – Joe Knox, Lucky Ayisa, Dylan Mostert, Liam Grehan, Brandon Pieters, Rigardt Albertse, Keegan Mclachlan, Adilson Da Silva, Otto Van Buynder, Darlington Chikayambidze, Stuart Krog, Lyle Rowe, Warwick Purchase, Jaden Deltel, Kyle De Beer, Keagan Thomas, Quintin Wilsnach
71 – Travis Procter
71 – Ronald Rugumayo, Luke Brown, Justin Walters, Graham van der Merwe, Jacques P de Villiers, Stals Swart, Jaco Van Zyl, Thabiso Ngcobo, Ryan Cairns, Doug McGuigan, Agustin Errazuriz, Oliver Goldhill, Xander Basson
72 – Dayne Moore
72 – Njoroge Kibugu, Haydn Porteous, Kieran Vincent, Herman Loubser, Jacques Blaauw, Thomas Sinclair, Neil Schietekat, Jordan Burnand
73 – Louis Albertse
73 – Thomas Spreadborough, Jean Hugo, Vuyisani Makama, Rupert Kaminski, Benjamin Van Wyk, Eric Wowor
74 – Dillon Germshuys
74 – Joe Sullivan, Jack Allard, Greg Snow, Charl Barnard, Kian Rose, Promise Sombreiro, Daniel Cronje, David Amm, Jack Davidson, Hennie Otto, Bradley Kulaisi, Pierre Viallaneix, Visitor Mapwanya, Gerhard Pepler, Ignatius Mketekete, Tristen Strydom, Martin Rohwer, Conner Mackenzie, Tonderai Masunga
75 – Astin Arthur
75 – Tyrone Ryan, Toto Thimba Jnr, Braydon Amm, Adam Breen, Shaahid Mahmed, Rhys West, Mitch Phigeland
76 – Paul Adam Chidale
76 – Jacquin Hess, Ethan Smith, Keanu Pestana, Albert Venter, Matthew Spacey, Hayden Griffiths
77 – Hannes Strooh
77 – Anyway Katembenuka, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Pierre Pellegrin, Willy Deus, Sydney Joseph Wemba, Celestin Nsanzuwera
78 – Liberty Gumisa
78 – Trevor Fisher Jnr, Ricky Hendler, Morris Schiefner, Carlos Bustos, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu, Nyasha Muyambo, Victor Kachepatsonga
79 – Tristan Leonard
79 – Davison Elijah, Tawana Mangoma, Tristin Galant, Jordan Duminy, Shaydon Johnson, Tariro November
80 – Akil Yousuf
80 – Shepard Chiwaya, Blessing Gondo
84 – Biggie Chibvuri
85 – Simon Murungweni
Article Link: Chile's Gana leads at FBC Zim Open